Canada’s tourism sector is heading for another strong year in 2026

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published April 24, 2026

Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتساب

Canada’s tourism sector is heading into another strong year in 2026, offering a positive signal for the broader economy and for travel and hospitality industries across the country. Destination Canada expects visitor spending to reach C$140.9 billion this year, up 6% from 2025. The outlook points to another encouraging year for a sector that continued building momentum after a strong summer in 2025.

The forecast is supported by several factors, including solid domestic travel demand, rising reshored spending by Canadians travelling within the country, and stronger long term growth expected from international markets. Overseas markets are projected to grow at an annual rate of 9.8% through 2035, helping diversify visitor sources and support tourism activity beyond traditional peak periods. Reshored domestic spending is also expected to add C$1.5 billion in 2025 and C$4.4 billion between 2025 and 2027.

The sector’s economic footprint remains significant. Based on 2024 figures, tourism generated more than C$130 billion in direct visitor spending, supported more than 265,800 businesses across 5,000 communities, and accounted for one in every 10 jobs in Canada. It also brought C$31.2 billion in new export revenue into the economy and returned C$31.6 billion in tax revenue to governments in 2024, reinforcing its role as a major economic driver rather than simply a seasonal activity.

What stands out in the latest outlook is that Canada is no longer treating tourism only as a recovery story. The focus is shifting toward long term growth, export value, and global competitiveness, with total tourism revenue projected to reach C$216.3 billion by 2035. In that context, 2026 is shaping up as more than just another year of recovery. It is becoming a stronger step in positioning tourism as one of Canada’s important growth sectors.